"Yoriichi Tsugikuni, it really is you!"
All six of Kokushibo's eyes widened at once, yet the jealousy in them rapidly faded.
In its place came an even fiercer rage!
[Moon Breathing, First Form: Dark Moon: Evening Palace]
A crescent-like quick-draw slash hurtled toward Lin Yoriichi at astonishing speed.
He immediately dropped his act and abruptly shifted aside, dodging the incredibly swift strike.
Lin Yoriichi narrowed his eyes slightly.
He had to say, Upper Rank One certainly lived up to his title.
Kokushibo was truly far stronger than those ordinary Lower Rank demons.
If his replication level had not already risen to 45%, Lin Yoriichi felt he could never have dodged Kokushibo's attack with the relative ease he had just shown.
Had he not first unsettled his opponent's mind, had his dodge just now been any clumsier...
Then Lin Yoriichi could guarantee that Kokushibo would have noticed something off about this "Yoriichi Tsugikuni."
And then he would no longer have been able to deliver his "surprise" to Muzan Kibutsuji and Kokushibo.
[Moon Breathing, Second Form: Pearl Flower Moongazing]
Kokushibo spun, unleashing two blades of wind at once.
Lin Yoriichi drew his sword, and the dark-red Bright Red Nichirin Sword successfully blocked another attack from Kokushibo.
Yet only Lin Yoriichi knew.
After taking those two attacks head-on, the web between his thumb and forefinger had already begun to go numb!
Still, this did not surprise Lin Yoriichi.
In the original story, Yoriichi Tsugikuni had indeed gravely wounded Kokushibo with a single slash even in the twilight of his life.
Even Kokushibo himself had admitted that if Yoriichi Tsugikuni had swung again, his head would have been severed completely.
But there was something else Kokushibo had said that must not be forgotten-
Although Yoriichi Tsugikuni had already grown so old and thin that he was little more than skin and bones.
The speed and power of his slash were still no different from those of his prime!
Meanwhile, after using Moon Breathing sword techniques twice in succession, Kokushibo watched Lin Yoriichi remain entirely on the defensive, his voice growing angrier:
"Yoriichi Tsugikuni, you should never have come back to life!"
"I once asked you how we should choose our successors."
"But you said we thought too highly of ourselves, that perhaps a child with even greater talent than yours had already been born."
"If you truly thought that, why did you come back to life?"
Kokushibo could no longer voice the rest.
Intense hatred filled his mind.
Why was Yoriichi Tsugikuni always the special one?
He had only just begun learning swordsmanship, yet he could defeat the swordsman I couldn't even touch, no matter what I did.
He bore a Demon Slayer Mark, yet he could live so long!
He had already died, yet he could overcome death and return once more!
Kokushibo had just denounced him as nothing more than a despicable imitator.
But after two consecutive attacks had still accomplished nothing, Kokushibo had no choice but to face a fact.
Was he himself not also clumsily imitating Yoriichi Tsugikuni, desperately struggling to catch up to him?
He had even gone so far as to turn himself into this hideous creature.
Perhaps because his emotions were running too high, Kokushibo suddenly felt somewhat dazed.
He vaguely sensed a will descending into his mind, sharing his senses.
At the same time, Lin Yoriichi's eyes lit up as he continued watching Kokushibo!
The opportunity he had been waiting for had arrived!
Since Muzan Kibutsuji had sent Kokushibo out to search for Yoriichi Tsugikuni's burial place.
Then until he received definite news from Kokushibo, he would remain anxious and restless.
The reason Lin Yoriichi had said, "How pitiful, elder brother," and asked Kokushibo for that flute.
Was to stir Kokushibo's emotions.
Muzan Kibutsuji was an utter coward, and he had the ability to monitor and control every demon.
Upon sensing such violent fluctuations in Kokushibo's emotions, he would surely be unable to resist "logging in from another location" and "taking over the account to check."
And that would be the moment to deliver his "surprise" to Kokushibo and Muzan Kibutsuji!
Lin Yoriichi once again stepped into Yoriichi Tsugikuni's role and said in a low voice:
"When I first encountered Muzan Kibutsuji, I had a feeling."
"The mission for which I was born into this world was to eliminate him!"
"Since I failed to fulfill my mission then, I would overcome even death to return once more!"
"You and Muzan Kibutsuji both fear death, yet you have overlooked one thing."
"Death is not frightening."
"Because death is not impossible to overcome!"
As he spoke, the Demon Slayer Mark at Lin Yoriichi's temple spread, and a wisp of white mist escaped the corner of his mouth.
The dark-red blade in its Bright Red Nichirin Sword state instantly erupted with sun flames as dazzling as the sun.
Lin Yoriichi knew that his current replication level still could not compare to Yoriichi Tsugikuni's final slash before his death.
But he knew even better where his advantage lay-
Through the Transparent World, Lin Yoriichi fixed his gaze on a scar on Kokushibo's neck.
It was a mark Yoriichi Tsugikuni had left centuries ago!
The real Yoriichi Tsugikuni was, of course, already dead, but he had also left marks that even death could not erase.
Both the thirteen scars on Muzan Kibutsuji's body and the wound on Kokushibo's neck were guideposts Yoriichi Tsugikuni had left for those who came after him!
Meanwhile, in the Infinity Castle.
After an intense internal struggle, Muzan Kibutsuji finally made up his mind and prepared to connect with Kokushibo.
He knew that suddenly sending his will into Kokushibo's mind and connecting with him would have a considerable effect on Kokushibo.
But after days of anxiety and restlessness, Muzan Kibutsuji could no longer concern himself with all that.
To get an even clearer understanding of what had happened, he not only connected to Kokushibo's vision but directly synchronized all his senses as well.
As a result, the very next moment, he heard Lin Yoriichi's words.
"The mission for which I was born into this world," "death is not impossible to overcome"...
The instant he heard those words, all five of Muzan Kibutsuji's brains shuddered in terror.
All seven of his hearts leaped into his throat!
It really is him!
Can he overcome even death?!
In his panic, Muzan Kibutsuji felt the muscles throughout his body trembling and contracting uncontrollably, seemingly trying instinctively to split apart and flee again. He completely forgot to end the connection, and even forgot the effect he was having on Kokushibo.
And so, for a moment, both Kokushibo and Muzan Kibutsuji could only watch helplessly as the sword in Lin Yoriichi's hand erupted with blinding sun flames.
Swish!
The sound of a sword swinging rang out.
An abrupt burst of fire instantly filled his vision.
Muzan Kibutsuji saw the blade wrapped in sun flames slash toward "his" neck.
His senses, synchronized with Kokushibo's, let Muzan Kibutsuji feel with absolute clarity the sensation of the blade slicing through his neck!
Before you continue